Greatest Yorkshireman choice explained

This week David Cameron wrote to ex-England cricketer Geoffrey Boycott to explain why he overlooked him when choosing his “greatest living Yorkshireman”.

The Prime Minister instead opted for former foreign secretary William Hague in his Conservative conference speech.

Mr Boycott, noted for his tenacity as a batsman, queried the choice on Twitter.

Mr Cameron has been inundated with alternative suggestions, including Hull’s own Philip Larkin, one of the country’s greatest poets.

He announced Mr Hague, who was born in Rotherham and represents Richmond, North Yorkshire, in Parliament, as his choice when he addressed Conservative members in Birmingham last week, calling him an “amazing parliamentarian” and “our greatest living Yorkshireman”.

This prompted a feverish debate, in which Mr Boycott was himself glad to take part, accusing the PM of suffering a “lapse in memory”.

The compiler of 48,426 first-class runs, including 8,114 in Test matches, advised Mr Cameron on his own batting technique when he appeared on the BBC’s Test Match Special last year. The two men are said to be friends.

Mr Cameron revealed he had written to Mr Boycott to explain his actions. Mr Boycott confirmed this in a tweet: “Lovely letter arrived this morning from the Prime Minister regards Greatest Living Yorkshireman debate – he has a great sense of humour!”